Ceredigion Coastal Path 6 - New Quay to Llangrannog

Finally the weather was looking good, so we decided it was time to continue our Ceredigion Coastal Path journey from last year - when we had managed all the sections north of New Quay (finishing in September with New Quay to Aberaeron). 

Today we headed south  to complete the New Quay to Llangrannog stretch - driving to Llangrannog and taking the “Cardi Bach” bus service to New Quay to the start the walk.  (This way we did not have to worry about completing the walk in time to catch the bus back to the car!)

The bus trip itself was interesting, bumping our way along minor roads and stopping in a few of the places we would be walking through later - arriving at New Quay with time for Sarah to fortify herself with a huge slice of bread pudding from the bakery we coveted last year (Bosun's Locker).  Having substantially more will power, I abstained from indulging on cake calories before I had actually earned them!

Cake eaten, sticky hands washed and walking poles adjusted we finally set off (some 30 minutes later). Amusingly, the GPS trace shows me wandering around during this 'downtime' orbiting Sarah's position.

We firstly made our way to the end of the stone jetty - disappointingly, no dolphins were to be seen on this occasion, but there were lots of people out enjoying the sunshine.  

The coastal path out of New Quay then took us past the Fish Factory before climbing steeply to the top of the cliff via a shale quarry and an overgrown path at the back of some houses.  Nice views from here back over New Quay:

The path hugged the cliff then all the way to Cwmtydu (the section way-point at about 3.5 miles in), with some spectacular coastal views over hidden coves, and winding up and down paths.

Along the route there is an old coastguard lookout at “Craig yr Adar” (Bird Rock), where we stopped for a few minutes looking at the wildlife - sadly again no dolphins, although plenty of dolphin watching boats!

This first part of the walk to Cwmtydu felt like hard work, and by the the time we reached the hamlet we were both feeling a bit broken. Sarah admitted she'd have happily stopped there and taken the Cardi Bach back to the car - but we had an ice cream and carried on, starting the long climb back up to the cliff top.  

(This pic and the GPS elevation profile below - Cwmtydu is at 8km - show just how much of a climb it was!).

The final stretch of the walk (5.9 or 4.2 miles depending on which information source you believe) saw us heading towards the Ynys Lochtyn peninsula, and the distinctive shape of Pen y Badell hill, with its hillfort.

Along the way we passed the Urdd residential centre and its somewhat incongruous dry ski slope (just visible on the left of the above pic).

It came as something of a welcome relief when we finally reached the headland.  Although I did manage the detour out onto the Ynys Lochtyn peninsula . . . 

. . . while Sarah (claiming to be nursing a dodgy knee) made her way down into Llangrannog, for a welcome cider - as designated driver I had to settle for a diet coke  :(  - before the trek (uphill again!) back to the car park.

All in all a not unenjoyable, if rather exhausting, walk on a beautiful day, with fantastic views - perhaps we were just a bit out of practice!   

The final stats from my GPS recorder:

Distance: 17.35km
Duration: 6:21
Moving Time: 5:06
Calories: 1885
Ascent: 677 meters

Final treat of the day - chips sat at the harbour in Aberaeron!